PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jacinto Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fikri Fachrurozi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Benson
vs
Fachrurozi

153 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

180 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jacinto Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Fikri Fachrurozi!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fachrurozi tries to clinch there but Benson circles away.
Benson really is a fat lump.
Benson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Benson stuffs the takedown attempt from Fachrurozi. Fachrurozi gets slowly back to his feet.
Fachrurozi tries for a takedown but Benson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
No luck for Fachrurozi with that takedown attempt.
Jacinto Benson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fikri Fachrurozi.
Benson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Benson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fachrurozi defends it nicely.
Fachrurozi's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Fachrurozi duly obliges.

It looks like Jacinto Benson has been cut.
Benson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fachrurozi.
A head kick misses from Fachrurozi.
Benson shoots in but Fachrurozi avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fachrurozi leaves Benson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fachrurozi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Benson defends it nicely.
Benson throws a head kick but Fachrurozi moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fachrurozi is defended easily by Benson.
Fachrurozi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fachrurozi is defended easily by Benson.
Fachrurozi looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benson drives through and clinches with Fachrurozi against the cage.
Fachrurozi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Benson smiles and moves away.
Fachrurozi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Benson backs up against the cage.
Benson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fachrurozi as he jumps to the side.
Fachrurozi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benson circles away.
Benson closes the distance and clinches up with Fachrurozi, looking for a takedown. Benson pushes Fachrurozi against the cage but Fachrurozi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Fachrurozi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Benson's waist but Benson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fachrurozi off to one side.

Benson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fachrurozi tries for a takedown. No joy.
Benson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fachrurozi's efforts to push away.
Fachrurozi misses with a punch on the inside.
Benson stalling in the clinch.
Fachrurozi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Benson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Benson is trying to pull guard but Fachrurozi has him pressed against the cage.
Fachrurozi has Benson pressed against the cage.
Benson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Fachrurozi up against the cage.
Benson gets underhooks to prevent Fachrurozi's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fachrurozi tries for a takedown. No joy.
Benson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fachrurozi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Benson has Fachrurozi pressed against the cage, preventing Fachrurozi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Benson wants a takedown but no success here.
Fachrurozi is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Benson slowing the pace effectively.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fachrurozi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Benson to keep the fight standing.
Fachrurozi letting Benson take a breather here.
Fachrurozi tries to pull guard but Benson holds him up against the cage and eventually Fachrurozi drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fikri Fachrurozi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jacinto Benson's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Benson swats away the attempt to clinch by Fachrurozi.
Benson misses with a few strikes there.
Fachrurozi stuffs the takedown.
Fachrurozi checks a low kick from Benson.
Fachrurozi blocks a head kick by Benson.
Benson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Fachrurozi shoots in but Benson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fachrurozi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Benson pinned against the cage. Benson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Benson fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fachrurozi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jacinto Benson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fikri Fachrurozi.
Fachrurozi shoots in and drives through. Benson sprawls well.
Fachrurozi is breathing heavily.
Benson tries to close the distance and clinch but Fachrurozi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jacinto Benson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fachrurozi tries to clinch up.
Fachrurozi darts in looking for a takedown but Benson gets double underhooks and turns Fachrurozi into the cage.
Benson tries to pull guard but Fachrurozi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Benson tries to pull guard but Fachrurozi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Benson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Benson wants to break free but Fachrurozi has control.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fachrurozi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Fachrurozi pulls Benson into guard.
Benson controlling from the top position.

Fachrurozi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Benson trying to control but Fachrurozi is working from the bottom.

Benson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson throws a leg kick but Fachrurozi moved away.
Fachrurozi looks for a takedown but Benson sprawls well.
Fachrurozi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Fachrurozi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Benson dives in and grabs Fachrurozi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fachrurozi pushes down on Benson's head and hops out.
Benson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Fachrurozi shoots for a takedown but Benson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Benson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fachrurozi's waist but Fachrurozi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Benson off to one side.
Nice takedown defense from Benson. No joy for Fachrurozi on that attempt.
Jacinto Benson is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson closes the distance and clinches up with Fachrurozi, looking for a takedown. Benson pushes Fachrurozi against the cage but Fachrurozi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Benson misses with a series of wild punches.
Fachrurozi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benson manages to avoid it.
Fachrurozi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benson.

Fachrurozi pushes Benson up against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fachrurozi tries to stall but Benson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacinto Benson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jacinto Benson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Fachrurozi wants to clinch up but Benson keeps it at a distance.
Fachrurozi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benson circles away.
Fachrurozi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Benson as he jumps to the side.
Fachrurozi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fachrurozi blocks a low kick nicely.
Benson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Benson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The referee calls for Fachrurozi to work.
Benson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fachrurozi has him pressed against the cage.
Fachrurozi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jacinto Benson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fikri Fachrurozi.
Fachrurozi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fachrurozi goes for a takedown attempt but Benson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson moves to clinch but Fachrurozi breaks away

and Fachrurozi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Benson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Fachrurozi up against the cage.
Benson tries for a takedown but Fachrurozi manages to get underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Benson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Benson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fachrurozi smiles and moves away.
Fachrurozi tries for a takedown but Benson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Benson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Fachrurozi is out of range and Benson settles back down.
Fachrurozi throws a lazy right hand but Benson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Benson shoots in for a takedown but Fachrurozi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Horrible takedown by Benson or perhaps it was just good defense by Fachrurozi which made him look bad.
Fachrurozi shoots in but Benson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fachrurozi moves in looking to clinch but Benson pushes him off.
Fachrurozi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Benson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Benson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fachrurozi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fachrurozi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fachrurozi wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fachrurozi leaves Benson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Benson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Fachrurozi.
Benson tries a low kick but Fachrurozi avoids it.
Nice sprawl there from Benson as Fachrurozi shoots in.
Fachrurozi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fachrurozi wants it to stay on the feet.
Benson's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Benson duly obliges.
Fachrurozi shoots in but Benson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Benson fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fachrurozi avoids the head kick by Benson.
Fachrurozi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Benson as he jumps to the side.
Fachrurozi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Benson throws a series of punches but Fachrurozi avoids them all with ease.
Fachrurozi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Benson defends well and Fachrurozi ends up having to push Benson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Benson jumps guard but Fachrurozi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Fachrurozi misses with a hook to the ribs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fachrurozi holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Benson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fachrurozi walks away with a smile on his face. Benson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jacinto Benson.
Well Benson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jacinto Benson!